Gear finishing



April 16, 1963 H. J. FINDLEY 3,085,369-

GEAR FINISHING Filed March 3. 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 l A rra/@NE ys April 16, 1963 H. J. FINDLEY 3,085,369

` GEAR FINISHING Filed March 5. 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A rra/ens ys April 16, 1963 H. J. FINDLEY v 3,085,369

GEAR FINISHING Filed March 3, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENToR. How/wo f HNDLEY April 16, 1963 H. J. FINDLEY 3,085,369

GEAR FINISHING Filed March 3. 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR. /o WAR@ ./T f/'NDLE Y G7 BY I,

/lrro NEYS April 16' 1963 H. J. FINDLEY GEAR FINISHING 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 5, 1959 INVENTOR.

3,085,369 GEAR FlNHSHiNG Howard J. Findley, 995 Richmond Road, Lyndhurst, Ohio Filed Mar. 3, 1959, Ser. No. 796,864 2 Claims. (Cl. 51-52) This invention relates to the finishing of toothed members, including hardened gears and the like, for the removal of nicks and irregularities so as to leave the gears in a desired accurate and :regular condition and with the -tooth faces thereof in a smooth state. The invention provides a novel method and apparatus for carrying out such finishing in a rapid and economical manner by producing a rotative, or rotative and traversing, relative movement between a toothed or gear-shaped tool member and a gear member in meshed engagement, and imparting a shortstroke rapid vibratory movement to at least one of the members concurrently with the meshed rotative relative movement. Y

The present invention also provides a novel vibratory method and apparatus for finishing gears and the like in the manner just above referred to and by the use of an abr-ading action between the meshed portions of the tool member and gear. j j

As another important object thereof, this invention provides a novel gear lfinishing method `and apparatus employing an ab-rading action and wherein the toothed tool member comprises wear-resistant plastic material, preferably nylon.

Still ano-ther object is to provide a gear nishing method and apparatus of the character mentioned above and which are applicable to gears of the helically-toothed type and also to gears comprising a group of axially adjacent gear elements. Y

A further object is to provide for carrying out the gear finishing procedures of this invention with the gear and toothed tool member in a crossed-axes relation.

Additionally, this invention provides a novel method and `apparatus forcarrying out the gear finishing procedures by so controlling the relative rotative and traverse movements between the gear and tool members yas to effectively nish the opposite faces of the gear teeth in a practical and efficient manner.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent in the following detailed description and in the accompanying -drawings forming a part of this -speciiication and in which FIG. 1 is a side elevation of one side of a gear finishing machine provided by Vthis invention and which can be used to advantage in carrying out the method hereof, porti-ons of the machine being shown in section;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the machine;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the machine from the opposite side thereof -and with portions shown in section;

FIG. 4 is an end elevation of the machine as seen Vfrom the tool spindle end thereof; Y

FIG. 5 is an end elevation of the machine from the opposite end thereof;

FIG. 6 is a partial vertical section taken on line 6 6 of FIGS. l and 2 and showing the work spindle brake means on a larger scale;

FIG. 7 is a partial vertical section taken on section line 7-7 of FIG. 2 Iand showing the workspindle mounting means on a larger scale;

FIG. 8 is a lfragmentary end elevation showing the arent Vice vcondition of the -t-ool member;

. FIG. 13 is a side elevation showing a gear finishing mai chine of ya modified construction providing for a crossedaxes relation between the tool member land gear;

FIG. 14 is a similar side elevation showing another modified construction by which such a crossed-axes relation is obtainable;

FIG. l5 is an end elevation showing the machine equipped with a modified form of abrasive supply means;

FIG. l6is afragrnentary side elevation showing a modied form of gear-shaped tool member by which a group of axially adjacent gear elements can be finished; and

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary end elevation illustrating an adjusting means embodied in the |tool member of FIG. 1'6, the view being taken as indicated by the directional line 17-17 thereof. i

The gear finishing machine 10A of FIGS. l to 7 inclusive represents one preferred embodimentof the apparatus of this invention and is provided with a tool -spindle 11 hav-V ing a toothed' or gear-.shaped tool member 12 mounted thereon, and a work spindle 13'located adjacent the tool` spindle and on which a gear member 14 to be finished is adapted to be mounted. The spindles 11 and 13 are suitably mounted in the machine .so as to provide for meshed rotative and relative traverse movements between the tool member 12 and the gear 14. The machine 10 also includes a vibrator 15 for producing a short-stroke rapid vibratory movement and 4applying the same to at least one of the meshed tool and gear members 12 and 14 during the rotative, or rotative and traverse movements, between these members.

The operation of the tool member 12 in meshed engagement with the gear member 14 produces a desired finishing of the tooth faces of the latter and, depending upon the characteristics of the tool member, the finishing operation can be a shaving or burnishing operation performed on the gear member prior to the hardening thereof or can be an abrading-type of finishing opera-tion performed on the tooth facesv of a hardened gear member.

When the'machine 10 is equipped with a tool member 12 intended for carrying out an 'abrading-type of finishing operation on the gear member 14 the ltool member is preferably, though not necessarily, made of a wear-resistant plastic material, preferably nylon. The use of a gearshaped tool member made of nylon in the abrasive finishing of gears is a broad concept =of this invent-ion and produces advantageous results independently of the use of the short-stroke rapid vibratory movement mentioned above. Likewise, the application of the short-stroke rapid vibratory movement concurrentlyl with a rotative, or rotative and traverse, movement between a `gear-shaped tool member and gear is a broad concept of this invention and produces advantageous results independently of the use of a nylon tool member. Since the gear-shaped tool made of nylon and the application of the short-stroke rapid vibratory movement are features of dominant irnpor-tance in this invention, the method and the machine will be initially described as having both of Ithese vfeatures embodied Itherein.

The machine 10 can be used for finishing a gear member having helically disposed teeth as well as for finishing `gear members of the kind having straight teeth and commonly referred to as spur gears. The gear member 14 shown in this instance is a Ihelically-toothed gear member and, likewise, the tool member 12 shown in this instance is a helically-toothed tool member. 'Ihe number of teeth on the tool member 12 is'preferably not evenly divisible by the number of teeth on the gear member 14 so that the nishing action will be more suitably distributed around `the -gear member without producing Iany undesirable pattern effect yon the latter.

The machine '10 is provided with a suitable base 18 upon which the machine is adapted to stand and which base is here shown as Ibeing provided with a sump or reservoir 19 ladapted to hold a supply of liquid containing solid abrasive particles. The machine 10 further includes adjacent frame portions 20 and 21 rising above the base 18 and Ion whichV the tool and work spindles 11 and 13 are supported.

The sump 19 is provided in the base 18 so as to be located beneath the tool and gear, members 12 and 14 for collecting the abrasive' liquid which drips from these members. Suitable applicator means is provided for applying the abrasive uid, such as a pumping means 22 located in or adjacent the sump 19 and which `delivers the abrasive -uid through a delivery conduit 23 to the meshed portions of the tool and gear :members 12 rand I14.

The frame Iportion 20 is here shown as comprising a lower ybracket member 25 suitably secured to the base 18, and an upper head 26 which is connected with the bracket member 25 for swinging and traverse movements by means of a shaft 27. The bracket 25 Vh-as laterally-spaced hollowbearing portions 28' and 29 which support the shaft 2-7 for both rotative and axial movements.

The head 26 includes a pair of depending hollow yoke portions 30 and 31 which are secured `on the shaft 27, as by means of transverse pins 32, so that the head is carried by the shaft for limited swinging about the axis of the latter and for a to-and-fro Itraverse movement in the general direction of the axis of this shaft. The upper portion of the head 26 is provided with a longitudinal opening 34, through whichga shaft extension 11a of the tool spindle 1v1 extends and is rotatably mounted by axially-spaced antifriction bearings and 36.

The swinging Imovement of the head 26 about the axis 'of the mounting shaft 27 controls lor variesV the depth of tooth engagement of the teeth 12apf the tool member 12 with .the teeth 14a of the gear member 14. This swinging movement also permits the tool member to be engaged with, or disengaged from, the work gears which are mounted in succession on the work spindle 13.

The closing Vand opening swinging movements of the head 20 toward and away from the work spindle 13 can be produced manually, as Iby means of a swingable actuating lever 37 and an lassociated toggle link 38. The lever 37 is here shown as being a bell crank lever swingably mounted -in a bracket projection 39 of the head 20 and connected with a .plunger 40 by means of the toggle link 38. The plunger -40 is slidably mounted in and extends through a bearing bracket projection 41 of the head 20 and has its free end 40a Vin abutting engagement with a stop lug 42 provided on the stationary yframe por-tion 21 at the top of the latter.

When the lever 37 is m-anually moved to a position in which the link 38 is substantially in alignment with the plunger 40, the head 26 will be swung away from` the frame portion 21 by the thrust of the plunger 40 against lthe latter, to thus disengage .the teeth of the tool member 12 from the teeth of the gear member 14. The swinging of the lever 37 in the opposite direction moves the link 38 to its til-ted position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, thereby fett-acting the plunger 40 and permitting a closing swinging movement `of the head 26 relative to the work spindle 13 by a tension spring 43.

The spring 43 has its opposite ends .anchored respectively on the fra-me portion 21 and the head 26 so as to exert a pulling force lon the latter for moving and holding the teeth ,of the tool member 12 in meshed engagement ywith the gear member 14. The depth of tooth engagement of the tool member lwith the gear member can Ibe controlled and varied by means of a stop yand adjusting -screw 44 which is Ithreadedly mounted in the upper part of theframe portion 21 and has its inner end 44aL located so as to form a positioning stop against which the head 26 is engaged by the .pulling force of the spring 43.

Suitable driving means is provided for producing the rotative and traverse movements between 4the tool and gear members 12 and V14 and is here shown as comprising an electric motor 446. In the machine 10 the rotative and traverse movements are applied to the tool member 12, and accordingly, the motor 46 is mounted on the head 26 as by means of a bracket `47 and is oper- Iably connected with the shaft extension 11n `of the :tool spindle 11. The motor 46 is also loperably connected with' traverse mechanism associated withthe mounting shaft 27.

The driving motor 46 is preferably a reversible motor and is connected through suitable gearing 48 with an up-` right shaft 49. The shaft 49`is mounted on the head 26 as by means of vertically spaced brackets 51 Iand 52 Aand has upper and lower driving worms 53 and 54 xed thereon. The upper worm 53 co-operates with a Worm gear 55 which is mountedon the shaft extension 11EL of the tool `,spindle for supplying the rotative movement to the tool member 12.

The lower worm "54 co-operates with a worm gear 56 forming a part of the traverse mechanism and which gear is formed integral with, or rigidly secured to, a cam sleeve 57. The cam sleeve `57 is vrotatably mounted on an extension portion 27a of the mounting shaft 27, as by means of a pair of antifriction bearings 57a, andis axially positioned on the shaft extension by an annular shoulder 58 of the latter and a retaining nut 59 cooperating with the inner race of the outermost one of the antifriction bearings. The cam sleeve 57 is provided. with a circumferentially extending and annularly continuous cam groove 60.

A reaction means is provided on the base 18 for cooperation with the cam sleeve 57 Iduring the rotation of the latter and is here shown as comprising a bracket 62 supporting a roller 63 which operates in the cam groove A60. During the rotation 4of the cam lsleeve 57 by the operation of the driving motor 46, the cam groove 60 reacts against the roller 63 to produce axial shifting of the mounting shaft 27 in the bearing bracket 25 to thereby cause the to-and-fro traverse movement of the tool member 12. rSince the tool spindle 11 and the cam sleeve 57 are driven by the same electric motor 46, the to-andfro traverse movement of the toolmember 12 will occur simultaneously with the rotative movement` thereof. The gears 55 and 56 preferably are of different sizes as shown in FIG. l, or are such that one gear has a different and odd number of teeth relative to the other, so that the nishing action on the gear member 14 will have a random distribution and the objectionable eifect of a recurring pattern will be avoided.

The frame portion 21, in addition to forming a support for the work spindle 13, also forms a mount for the vibrator 15. This frame portion comprises spaced upright arms 65 and 66, of which the arm 65 forms amount for the work spindle 13 and the arm 66 forms a mount for the vibrator 15. The work spindle 13 includes a shaft extension 13a and the upper portion of the arm 65 is provided with a longitudinal opening into which the shaft extension 13a extends.

In the machine the short-stroke vibratory movement is imparted to the gear member 14, and accordingly, the mounting of the Work spindle 13 in the arm 65 is such as to permit the vibratory movement to be applied to the shaft extension 13a. -For this purpose, the arm 65 is provided with a bearing sleeve 67 in which a hollow carrier sleeve 68 is slidably mounted. The shaft extension 139' of the Work spindle is rotatably mounted in the carrier sleeve 68 by means of suitable antifriction bearings 69 and 70. The carrier sleeve 68 is provided at the inner end thereof with a transverse wall or cover 71 to which the vibrator 15 can be connected.

The vibrator can be of any type suitable for producing the short-stroke rapid vibratory movement of a suitable vibration frequency and is here shown as being an electromagnetic vibrator having a core or magnet frame 714 and a movable armature 75 adjacent thereto. The core 74 is `suitably supported by the arm 66 and is provi-ded with a magnet coil 76 which is energizable from any suitable source of pulsating or alternating electric current of appropriate frequency.

The armature 75 is resiliently supported between vertically spaced portions 77 and 78 of the arm 66 by means of a group of plate-type springs 79. The armature 75 is here shown as comprising a body portion 75ab extending in a spanm'ngV relation to the core 74 and an axial projection 8() which is connected with the cover of the carrier sleeve 68 by means of an axially rigid bar or stem 81.

The projection 80 has a transverse opening 82 through which the group of support springs 27 extends and which opening is of an axial width to accommodate any desired number of spring elements needed in the spring group 79. The upper and lower ends of the springs of the group 79 are secured with intervening spacers therebetween, to the upper and lower portions 77 and 78 of the support arm 66 as by suitable attaching screws 83. The armature 75 is connected with-the intermediate-portion of the spring group 79 by means of a clamping screw 84 whose head is countersunk into the armature body 75a.

The rotative movement of -the work spindle 13 can be controlled during the finishing of the gear member 14 by the tool member 12 and the control means shown in Vthis instance for this purpose is in the form of a brake device 86. The brake :device 86 comprises a brake drum 87 rotatable with the shaft extension 13a and a band-type friction member 88 co-operating with such drum. The extent or force of the braking action of the band 88 on the drum 87 can be controlled or varied as by means of an adjusting screw 89.

The friction band 88 is operably connected with the arm 65 of the frame member 21 in such a manner as to prevent rotation of the friction band with the drum 87 but to still permit the short-stroke rapid axial vibratory movement of the Work spindle 13. This is accomplished by providing thefriction band 8S with a lug projection 90 which is slidably received between a pair of rigid stop lugs 91 and `92 provided on the arm 65. The slot or space between the lugs 91 and 92 is open on the side of the arm 65 facing the gear member 14, or is of a greater axial width than Vthelug projection 90, so as to permit the above-mentioned short-stroke axial vibratory movement of the work spindle 13.

During the operation of the machine 10, rotational movement and a to-and-fro traverse movement are irnparted to the tool member 12 by the operation of the electric motor 46 and this will result in the gear 14 being rotatably driven by the tool member assuming, of course, that the setting of the brake -device 86 permits such rotation of the gear. When the tool member 12 comprises nylon or other wear-resistant plastic material as mentioned above, the abrasive action between the tool member and the gear 14 is obtained by supplying the abrasive fluid to the tool member, such as through the pipe 23 to the point of meshed engagement. Since nylon is highly resistant to wear, the tool member 12 will co-operate effectively with the gear member for producing the desired abrasive finishing action on the latter without itself being subject to any rapid deterioration.

The nylon of the tool member 12 also gives this member a somewhat yieldable characteristic which enables it to be indented by and pick up solid abrasive particles from the fluid being supplied, in such a manner that the particles become temporarily attached to or imbedded in the tool member. The embedded abrasive particles are yieldably held by the plastic material and are highly effective on the gear member for producing the desired finishing action thereon and, since the embedded particles are continuously being renewed, any wear on the tool member itself will be of a small or minimum amount. v

FIG. 8 of the drawings shows the meshed engagement of the tool member 12 with the gear member 14 and represents a new or unworn condition of the tool member. This view of the drawings also represents the rest condition of the machine `10 when the tool member has been initially moved into mesh with the gear member but prior to the starting of the drive motor 46. At this time a small clearance space 93 preferably exists between the adjacent faces of the meshed teeth 12a and 14a, as shown in FIG. 8.

When the machine 10 is put into operation, the direction of rotation of the drive motor 46 will determine which side face of the teeth of the gear member 14 will be finished by the tool member 12. FIG. 9 illustrates the co-operation of the tool member 12 with the gear member 14 and the resulting finishing operation on the tooth faces 94 when the rotation is in the direction indicated by the arrows 95 of this View. Finishing of the opposite tooth faces 96 of the gear member 14 is accomplishedV by operating the machine 1t) with the driving motor 46 rotating in the opposite direction as is indicated by the arrows 97 of FIG. 10.

The co-operation of the tool member 12 with the gear member 14 in a manner to finish both faces of the teeth in the manner just described in connection with FIGS. 9 and l0, results from the control provided by the brake device 86 for the work spindle 13. Thus, when the brake 186 retards the rotation of the work spindle while the latter is being rotated in one direction, the tool member will co-operate with the tooth faces 94 of the gear member and when the direction of drive of the motor 46 is reversed, the drag of the brake will cause the tool member to fini-sh the opposite faces 96 of the gear teeth.

The holding force or drag acting on the gear member 14 during the nishing lthereof by the tool member 12 can be varied `by adjusting the screw 89 to suitably change the energization or effectiveness of the brake device 86. If desired, the machine 1b can be operated with the brake device 86 de-energized and, in that case, the inertia of the gear member 14 and of the rotative parts associated therewith will provide ythe retarding action or drag for causing one or the other of the tooth faces of .the gear member to be abradingly acted upon by the tool member.

FG. l2 of the drawings illustrates a somewhat worn condition of the tool member 12 and which worn condition is .apparent from the showing of the relatively reduced circumferential thickness of the teeth 12a. Since the machine 10 is capable of producing the desired finishing action alternately'on both sides of -the teeth of the gear member 14, the worn condition of the tool member `12 can be tolerated and hence a given tool member can be used for a prolonged period of time for economical operation.

Engagement of the tool member 12 with the gear member .14 with an initial space 93 between the meshed teeth, as shown in FIG. S, is obtainable by the )setting or -in-and-out control provided by the screw 44 and is usually desirable in Vthe operation oli the machine 10 be- :cause the tool member will then operate in the manner explained above in connection with FiGS. 9 and 10 and will have the long life referred to in connection with FlG. 12. If desired, however, the screw 44 can be so set that the teeth of the tool member 12` will initially be in contact with the teeth of Ithe gear member 14, thatis, without any intervening space 93. Under these circumstances lthe tool member 12 will operate simultaneously on and iinish both side 4faces of the meshed teeth of the gear 14.

FIG. 11 of the drawings shows a gear-shaped tool member 99 which can be used in the same manner as the tool member 12 for the abrasive finishing of the gear member 14 but which is of a moditied form and comprises a molded or formed member 99a made of ceramic, plastic or composition material and having abrasive particles 100 embodied in and distributed through this member. 1n the operation of the machine V10 when using the moditied form of tool member 99, the .supply of abrasive fluid through the pipe 23 is discontinued, although a coolant or flushing uid can still be applied, if desired. FIG. 12 of the drawings is also illustrative `of a worn condition of the tool member 99.

During the finishing of gears by the apparatus and method of this invention, the application of the shortst-roke rapid vibratory movement to one or the other of the gear-.shaped tool and work gear members is highly advantageous and results in a more rapid cutting or abrading operation on the gear and in a more satisfactory finish on the tooth faces. These advantageous results are achieved from the vibratory action, regardless of whether the gear-shaped tool member being used is one for carrying out a shaving or burnishing operation on an unhardened gear; or i-s one for carrying out an abrading operation on a hardened gear, such as the nylon tool member for a wet abrading operation or the molded abrasive tool member of FIG. 11 for a dry abrading operation.

In making use of the vibratory movement during the operation of the machine 110, for the abrasive finishing of the gear member 14 by the use of a tool member- 12 cornprising nylon, the gear member is subjected to the shortstroke rapid vibratory movement during the time that the rotative and relative traverse movements are taking place between the tool and gear members. .This vibratory movement is imparted to the gear member 14 in the general direction of the rotation axis of the work spindle 13 by the above-described vibrator 15.

lf desired the machine 10, when using the nylon tool member 12 in abrasive rotative and traverse co-operation with the gear member 14, can be operated without use of the vibratory movement supplied by the vibrator 15. This ycan be accomplished by operating the machine 10 with the vibrator 15 in a de-energized or idle condition.

The advantages and improved results obtainable from the use of the nylon tool member 12 can thus be achieved independently of and separately from the advantages obtainable from the application of the short-stroke rapid vibratory movement supplied by the vibrator `15.

When the 4tool member 12 and the gear member 14 are of the helically toothed 4shape shown in the drawings and mentioned above, an axial vibratory movement being supplied by ythe vibrator 15 while rotation of the gear member is being retarded by a holding action or drag,

K of the bearing bracket 117 are relatively slidable.

8 parted thereto. The to-and-fro corkscrew movement is thus superimposed on the rotative movement, or rotative and traverse movements, with the result that the finishing action of the corkscrew movement will be distributed around and across the gear member by the rotative and traverse movements.

1n the earlier portion of this speciiication, use of the novel method for gear iinishing with the tool member and gear member in a crossed-axes relation, was referred to. This use of the method is desirable particularly for iinishing helically-toothed gear members and is obtainable in the modified forms of finishing machines 102 and 103 shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, respectively, of the drawings.

In the modified machine 102 of the FIG. 13, the head 104 supporting the tool member 12 comprises two relatively adjustable frame members 105 and 1%. The frame member 105 has the tool spindle 11 rotatably mounted therein and the frame member 106 is connected with the mounting shaft 27 in the same manner as has been described above for the head 26 of the machine 10.

Two reversible electric driving motors 10S and 109 are provided in the modified machine 102, of which the motor 108 is used to rotate the tool member 12, and the motor 109 is used to produce the to-and-fro traverse movement oi the tool member through traverse mechanism which includes the cam sleeve 57. The motoi 1518 is mounted on the frame member 105 by a suitable bracket 110` and has a worm or the like in driving engagement with the gear 55. The motor 109 is mounted on the frame member 106 by a suitable bracket 111 and has a worm or the like in driving engagement with the gear 56.

The frame member 105 is adjustably movable relative to the frame member 105 by a rocking movement permitted by cooperating lugs and bearing surfaces 113 and 114 carried respectively by the frame members 105 'and 106. The adjusting means also includes clamping screws 115 extending through slots provided in the lugs 113 and having threaded engagement in the frame member 105. in other respects, the modified machine 102 is substantially the same as the 'machine 10 and includes the vibrator 15 and the brake device 86.

From the construction just described for the modified machine 102, it will be seen that the adjustable connection provided between the frame members 105 and 106 will permit the frame member 105 to be rocked relative to the frame member 106 to locate the rotation axis of the tool spindle 11 in a tilted or crossed relation to the rotation axis of the gear member 14. When the tool member 11V has been thus located in a crossed-axes relation tothe work spindle 13, the clamping screws 115 are tightened and the machine 102 is then in a condition for carrymg out any and all of the gear finishing procedures explaied herein for the machine 10.

The electric motors 108 and109 are preferably induction motors so that, even though they may be of the same rating, they will operate at somewhat different speeds because of the different Work loads to which they will be subjected. The'ditferent load speeds of the motors 103 and 109 will therefore produce la variable and better distributed resultant action during the finishing of the gear member 14 and any tendency to produce an undesirable pattern effect on the latter will be avoided.

The'moditied machine 103 shown in FIG. 14 also provides for tilting of the tool spindle to a crossed-axes relation relative to the work spindle and this Iis accomplished by a rocking of the head and bracket members 116 and 117 relative to a support bracket v118. In this modied machine 103, the rockable adjustment just referred to is obtainable by providing the bracket member 118 with curved bearing surfaces 119' on which lug portions 120 When the desired crossed-axes position of tadjustmentfor the tool spindle 11 has been obtained, the lug portions 12.9 are secured in fa fixed relation against the curved bearing surfaces 119 by suitable clamping screws 121 extending through the lug portions and having threaded engagement in the bracket member 118.

The modified machine 163 requires only one driving motor 4,6a for supplying both the rotative and transverse movements of the tool member 12. The motor 46a is mounted on the head 26a as by means of a suitable mounting bracket 47a. In all other respects the modified machine 103 is the same as the machine 10 and includes the vibrator 15 and the brake device S6, and is operable to carry out all of the gear finishing procedures explained herein for the machine 10.

Instead of applying abrasive yfluid to the tool and gear members 12 and 14 by means of a pump and delivery pipe, such as the pump 22 land the pipe 23 of the machine 1t), the abrasive fluid can be applied to one of the meshed members by an applicator wheel as shown in the modied finishing machine 123 of FIG. 15. In -this modified machine, the base 1S is provided with a sump or reservoir 19 containing la body of abrasive liquid 124 and a rotatable applicator wheel 125 is partially immersed in the abrasive Huid and has running contact with the periphery of the tool member 12.

lThe applicator wheel 125 is preferably a gear-shaped member or pickup wheel which is rotatably mounted on the base 1S as by means of a pivot shaft 126. As shown in FIG. l5, the applicator wheel 125 is driven by the tool member 12 and operates to pick up abnasive fluid from the sump 19 and apply the fluid directly to the tool member. The applicator wheel 12S can be made of any suitable material but is preferably absorbent or porous in character to increase the effectiveness thereof in picking up the abrasive liquid and applying the same to the tool member.

If desired, the machine 123 can 'also be provided with one or more gear-shaped distributor wheels 127, in this case two such wheels, located on opposite sides of the applicator wheel 125 and in meshed engagement with the tool member 12. The wheels 12'/ are preferably of an absorbent material, such as felt, and act to distribute the abrasive fluid evenly on the tool member as well as to remove excess fluid therefrom. y

FIGS. 16` and 17 of the drawings show a modified construction by which any one of the machines 10, 102, 103 and 123 can be adapted for a finishing operation on a gear member comprising a plurality of axially adjacent gear elements. A gear member 14 of this form is shown in FIG. 16 and comprises two axially adjacent helicallytoothed gear elements 129 and 130 in either a stacked or joined relation to each other, and which gear member is mounted on a rotatable work spindle 13.

The gear-shaped tool member 12 of FIGS. 16 and 17 comprises axially adjacent helicallytoothed tool elements 132, 133 carried by the tool spindle 11. The tool elements 132 and 133 are relatively rotatably adjustable in opposite directions so that when these tool elements are in meshed engagement with the gear elements 129 and 130, they will act on the adjacent side faces of the teeth of the two gear elements when the tool elements are rotatably adjusted in one direction and will act on the remote side faces of the teeth of the two gear elements when the tool elements are rotatably adjusted in the opposite direction.

T he relative adjusting movement between the tool elements 132 and 133 is obtained by means of a pivoted adjusting shaft 135 carried by the tool element T32 and having an offset eccentric portion or crank element 136 engaged in a radial slot 137 provided in the tool element 1,33. Pivotal movement imparted to the adjusting shaft 135 causes the crank element 136 to exert a camming force on a side wall of the slot 137 to thereby produce rotative adjusting movement between the tool elements 132 and .133 in accordance with the direction of the Vpivotal movement imparted to the adjusting shaft.

The pivot shaftl 135 can be moved to its adjusting positions Vas by means of an actuating handle 138 in the form of a bent pin having a portion thereof extending 10 transversely through the head '139 of the pivot shaft. The two adjusting positions to which the handle 138 is movable are illustrated in FIG. 7, one being a phantom line position 1318EL and the other being .shown in full lines. The handle 138 can be retained in either of these adjusting positions as by means of a fork-like clip 140 engageable with a holding screw 141 and a compression spring 142 interposed between the clip and the handle.

The modified tool member .12 of FIGS. 16 and 17 can be used in any of the machines 10, 102, 103 and 123 for finishing plural gear elements 129 and 130 in accordance with any of the finishing procedures described herein for those machines.

The gear-shaped tool member 12 comprising nylon and the abrasive-carrying tool member 99 of FIG. ll, when used for carrying out the abrading gear finishing procedures described hereinabove, can also be referred to as a lap or by the terms lap member or lap wheel.

From the accompanying drawings and the foregoing detailed description it will now be readily understood that this invention has provided a novel method and gear finishing machines by which a rotative and relative traversing movement is produced between meshed tool and gear members for finishing the side faces of the gear teeth. The various features of the machines and method and the operational advantages and improved results derived therefrom having already been described in the foregoing specification, they need not be repeated or further summarized.

Although the gear finishing method and apparatus of this invention have been illustrated and described herein to a somewhat detailed extent, it will be understood, of course, that this invention is not to be regarded as being limited correspondingly in scope but includes all changes and modifications coming within the terms of the claims hereof.

Having described my invention, I claim:

l. In a method of finishing a work member comprising a group of axially adjacent gear elements the steps of providing a rotatable tool member comprising axially adjacent relatively rotatably adjustable gear-shaped tool elements, placing said tool member with the tool elements thereof in mesh with the respective gear elements of said group, producing an adjusting rotative movement in one direction between said tool elements, rotating said tool member and work member in such meshed engagement, producing an abrading condition between the meshed portions of said tool member and work member during the meshed rotation of said members, vibrating at least one of said members with a rapid short-stroke generally axial vibratory movement while the meshed abrading rotative movement is taking place between said members, producing an adjusting rotative movement in the opposite direction between said tool elements, and continuing the vibratory movement of said one member and the meshed abrasive rotation of said members.

2. In apparatus for finishing a gear member comprising a pair of axially adjacent gear elements, a tool member comprising axially adjacent relatively rotatably adjustable gear-shaped tool elements, means supporting said tool member for rotation, drive means operable to rotate said tool member, means supporting said gear elements for rotative meshed engagement with the respective tool elements, means for producing an abrading action of said tool elements on said gear elements, and adjusting means effective between said tool elements for producing an adjusting relative rotary movement therebetween for circumferentially pressing the tool elements against the side faces of the gear teeth.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 605,283 Holland June '7, 1898 (Other references on following Page) UNITED STATES PATENTS Schrader Apr. 18, 1905 Wolfe July 4, 1933 Hofmann et a1 Feb. 20, 1934 Offenbacher June 16, 1936 Drummond June 21, 1938 Reinecker Nov. 8, y1938 Seibold June 20, 1944 Davis Sept. 18, 1945 Wickman June 15, `1948 12 Aidino et a1., Nov. 10, 1953 Praeg et al. Nov. 24, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Apr. 20, 1933 Great Britain Aug. 27, 1958 OTHER REFERENCES Publication: Machine Design, March 1954, pp. 153

l0 and 154. 

2. IN APPARATUS FOR FINISHING A GEAR MEMBER COMPRISING A PAIR OF AXIALLY ADJACENT GEAR ELEMENTS, A TOOL MEMBER COMPRISING AXIALLY ADJACENT RELATIVELY ROTATABLY ADJUSTABLE GEAR-SHAPED TOOL ELEMENTS, MEANS SUPPORTING SAID TOOL MEMBER FOR ROTATION, DRIVE MEANS OPERABLE TO ROTATE SAID TOOL MEMBER, MEANS SUPPORTING SAID GEAR ELEMENTS FOR ROTATIVE MESHED ENGAGEMENT WITH THE RESPECTIVE TOOL ELEMENTS, MEANS FOR PRODUCING AN ABRADING ACTION OF SAID TOOL ELEMENTS ON SAID GEAR ELEMENTS, AND ADJUSTING MEANS EFFECTIVE BETWEEN SAID TOOL ELEMENTS FOR PRODUCING AN ADJUSTING RELATIVE ROTARY MOVEMENT THEREBETWEEN FOR CIRCUMFERENTIALLY PRESSING THE TOOL ELEMENTS AGAINST THE SIDE FACES OF THE GEAR TEETH. 